Chez Hope director Sami Riley laid to rest Saturday

Memorial services were held Saturday for Sami Riley, 62.
Riley was the executive director of Chez Hope, headquartered in Franklin.
A native of Cushing, Oklahoma and a resident of New Iberia, Ms. Riley passed away Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 at 12:25 p.m. at a local health care facility.
Ms. Riley worked in the field of domestic violence since 1986 as an advocate for domestic violence victims and as an administrator of family violence programs and batterer intervention services. She developed and coordinated the opening of two family violence shelters in Louisiana and developed and coordinated the implementation of the St. Mary Parish Domestic Violence Task Force.
Ms. Riley was employed by Chez Hope since 1998 and served as the executive director since 2003. She was a member of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence since 1986 and has held numerous executive positions on the Coalition’s Executive Committee. Ms. Riley was a Certified Domestic Violence Batterer’s Intervention Counselor through the Domestic Violence Intervention Project from Duluth, Minnesota and assisted with the development of the Louisiana Batterer Intervention Standards. She assisted in the development of the Louisiana Governor’s Office on Women’s Services Quality Assurance Standards for all family violence programs in the state as well as her appointment by the Governor of Louisiana as a member of the Domestic Violence Prevention Commission.
Ms. Riley was honored as a past member of Who’s Who Top Executives. She also received recognition from the Department of Justice for outstanding services to victims of crime. Ms. Riley was a past member of the Louisiana Crime Victims Advisory Committee for the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. She published articles in the American Press Association on providing intervention to perpetrators of domestic violence and published presentations on domestic violence re-victimization practices as well as being recognized as an expert witness In the Louisiana and Mississippi District Courts.
She is survived by her parents, Henry Riley and JoAnn Harmon Riley of New Iberia; daughter, Summer Jamieson and husband, Frank Jamieson of New Iberia; special friend and co-worker, Cherrise Picard of Franklin; grandchildren, Britni Dore, Whitni Dore, Katelyn Dore, Jordan Delahoussaye, Mattie Mason, Seth Jamieson and Sami Jo Jamieson.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Michele Dore.
Services were held at David Funeral Home in New Iberia, and the Rev. Donnie Crane officiated.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for gifts in her honor be made to Chez Hope, P.O. Box 98, Franklin, LA 70538.
Family and friends wishing to express condolences can sign the online guestbook.
David Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter Street, (337) 369-6336 is in charge of the arrangements.